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Photo: Deadline Detroit archive
Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is asking a court to reconsider a judge's recent refusal to set aside his 28-year prison sentence, claiming the judge had a conflict of interest.
In what is reportedly viewed by legal experts as his last chance to have his sentence vacated, Kilpatrick is seeking to disqualify U.S. district judge Nancy Edmunds based on a 2012 exchange picked up in a court transcript.
The Detroit News reports the "conflict" claim hinges on something said to Edmunds by Kilpatrick's ex-lawyer, James Thomas:
"When James Thomas walked into Judge Edmunds' chambers, the judge was already seated at the head of the large conference table," according to the motion. "He stopped, leaned over to the judge and said, 'Thank you for the lovely card for my wedding judge. My wife and I truly loved it."
The filing alleges that Edmunds allowed the conflict of interest issues to "infect" the entire trial process.
"The judge made special provisions that she called a 'solution' or a 'cure' for trial counsel to remain silent regarding the most serious issues at trial," according to the motion. "Edmunds refused to investigate or inquire into whether the conflict of interests could deter trial counsel from intense probing of the witness on cross-examination."
Kilpatrick has previously appealed his conviction on a number of grounds. Last year, he sought a pardon from President Trump.
